The enrollment period for these private plans begins on November 15, 2005, and runs through May 15, 2006. In order to participate, you must be eligible to receive Medicare Part A or Part B. Participation in a plan is voluntary and Medicare recipients are not forced to take part. However, if you don't join when you are first eligible, you may have to pay a higher premium if you choose to join later. And it is important to note, you will have to pay this higher premium for as long as you have a Medicare prescription drug plan.

According to the Wall Street Journal, "The penalties affect people who are eligible for Medicare because they are age 65 or above or have certain disabilities, and who don't already have drug coverage that has been determined by the government to be at least as good as the basic Medicare benefit. For each month such a person is late signing up, he or she will automatically pay 1% more in monthly premiums forever. For example, people who are eligible for Medicare and lack good drug coverage would pay monthly premiums that are 24% higher if they join two years late." (Source: Medicare's Drug Plan: What to Do Now, 9.14.05).

Those opting to take part in the Medicare drug benefit also face a sizeable "donut hole" in their coverage. As a result of this gap, once a beneficiary spends $2,250 in a year, he or she must cover all remaining costs until they spend a total of $3,600 out of pocket, not including premiums. During debate on the Medicare drug benefit, I voted to eliminate this unfair provision which leaves seniors and others on a limited income facing steep costs for the medicines they need to stay healthy.

If you already have prescription coverage from other insurance, you can keep that coverage. If that coverage offers the same or better benefit, you will not have to pay a higher premium if you decide to join later. Please take the time to check with your insurance provider to see how your coverage compares.

Beneficiaries and families who need help in sorting out the new law can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit on-line. I hope you will take the time to learn about this new drug coverage option, the cost of taking part in a plan and the penalties for opting to enroll after the program's initial start.

Finally, Congress should repeal the flawed provisions in the Medicare drug benefit law which prohibit the federal government from using the buying power of more than 40 million Americans to force drug companies to sell their medicines at a lower price. Savings produced through bulk purchases could be passed along to consumers. This type of cost containment strategy is already in use at the VA, which provides medical care to America's veterans. I see no reason that the same cost-saving approach cannot be applied to prescription drugs purchased through one of the new private plans authorized under Medicare. Drug companies are already seeing record profits and Americans are paying the price at their neighborhood pharmacies.